Chad Stark

{{Short description|American football player (born 1965)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Chad Stark

| number = 37

| position = Running back

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1965|4|4}}

| birth_place = Decorah, Iowa, U.S.

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 1

| weight_lb = 220

| high_school = Brookings

| college = North Dakota State

| draftyear = 1987

| draftround = 12

| draftpick = 329

| pastteams =

• New York Giants ({{NFL Year|1987}})*
• Saskatchewan Roughriders ({{CFL Year|1987}})*
• Seattle Seahawks (1987)
• Miami Dolphins ({{NFL Year|1988}})

| statlabel1 = Games played

| statvalue1 = 2

| pfr = StarCh20

}}

Chad William Stark (born April 4, 1965) is an American former professional football running back who played two games with the Seattle Seahawks in 1987. He played college football at North Dakota State University.{{Cite web |title=Chad Stark stats |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/StarCh20.htm |access-date=December 15, 2023 |publisher=Pro Football Reference}}{{Cite web |title=Chad Stark, RB |url=https://www.nfl.com/players/chad-stark/ |access-date=December 15, 2023 |work=NFL}}

Born in Decorah, Iowa, Stark grew up in 11 cities, per his cousins including Belmond, Iowa, where he attended high school and played football only during his Freshman year before moving away, later attending Brookings High School, where he became one of the top prep players in South Dakota history while being an All-American and being recruited by over 100 schools.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/argus-leader/136862147/|newspaper=Argus-Leader|via=Newspapers.com|date=June 30, 1985|page=13|title=Stark turns attention to next NDSU title|author=Hansen, Greg}} {{Open access}}{{Cite web|url=https://gobison.com/honors/bison-athletic-hall-of-fame/chad-stark/74|publisher=North Dakota State Bison|title=Chad Stark (2002)}} He played college football for the North Dakota State Bison and helped them win the national championship in 1983, 1985 and 1986.{{Cite news|url=https://www.inforum.com/sports/bison-media-zone/mens-sports/40-years-later-jeff-bentrim-and-chad-stark-look-back-at-the-1983-ndsu-national-championship|newspaper=Inforum.com|title=40 years later; Jeff Bentrim and Chad Stark look back at the 1983 NDSU national championship |date=October 3, 2023|author=Izzo, Dom|url-access=registration}} He ran for 2,837 yards and 30 touchdowns in his four-year North Dakota State career, being second all-time in school history in rushing yards at the time of his graduation while being a first-team all-conference and second-team All-American as a senior. He also set the NCAA's postseason rushing record at the time.

Selected by the New York Giants in the 12th round of the 1987 NFL draft, Stark was released during preseason and later signed with the practice roster of the Saskatchewan Roughriders.{{Cite web|url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/transactionss/star00600.html|website=Pro Football Archives|title=Chad Stark NFL Transactions}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-phoenix/136862500/|newspaper=Star-Phoenix|via=Newspapers.com|date=September 23, 1987|page=17|title=At a glance}} {{Open access}} When the NFL Players Association went on strike, he was signed as a replacement player by the Seattle Seahawks and appeared in two games.{{Cite web|url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/players/star00600.html|website=Pro Football Archives|title=Chad Stark Stats}} He later had a stint with the Miami Dolphins.